38 U.S.C. § 3001 — Purposes

to provide a new educational assistance program to assist in the readjustment of members of the Armed Forces^* to civilian life after their separation from military service;

to extend the benefits of a higher education to qualifying men and women who might not otherwise be able to afford such an education;

to provide for vocational readjustment and to restore lost educational opportunities to those service men and women who served on active duty^* after June 30, 1985;

to promote and assist the All-Volunteer Force program and the Total Force Concept of the Armed Forces by establishing a new program of educational assistance based upon service on active duty or a combination of service on active duty and in the Selected Reserve^* (including the National Guard) to aid in the recruitment and retention of highly qualified personnel for both the active and reserve^* components of the Armed Forces;

to give special emphasis to providing educational assistance benefits to aid in the retention of personnel in the Armed Forces; and

to enhance our Nation’s competitiveness through the development of a more highly educated and productive work force.